A protest over planned changes to the contracts of junior doctors took place at Belfast City Hall - and in other locations across the UK - today.

Several hundred turned out in Belfast for the rally which was over what are planned changes to the contracts of junior doctors.

The Northern Ireland Junior Doctors Committee (NIJDC) have said that the new contract would see junior doctors 'worse off' in terms of hours and pay.

Following the rally, Dr Chris Hoo, deputy chair NIJDC said:

“The support for the rally from junior doctors, consultants and the wider community shows the strength of feeling on the issue.

“Patient safety is central to everything a doctor does and the proposed new contract puts that at risk.

However, UK health secretary, Jeremy Hunt has said that proposals would reduce the maximum weekly working hours of junior doctors.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: "This is a good deal for doctors. We are reducing the maximum hours a doctor can be asked to work from 91 to 72 hours [a week]. We're stopping doctors being asked to work for five nights in a row."

A petition from NIJDC directed towards Minister Simon Hamilton is said to have amassed over 2000 signatures in two days.